Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Sushan Gaolong
Jiang Shu paused and turned around slowly. Feeling guilty, she didn't dare look Lu Changji in the eye, and only cast her gaze on the bluestone floor beside her.
At this moment, a large hand with distinct joints appeared in her sight. The hand was strong and powerful, with slightly protruding veins on the back of the hand, and a goose yellow handkerchief was held in the palm of the hand.
Jiang Shu was secretly annoyed. She was obviously not the kind of person who would lose things, so why did she make a fool of herself in front of Lu Changji?
Fortunately, Lu Changji picked up the handkerchief. If it was picked up by someone with ulterior motives, she would not be able to explain it even if she had ten mouths.
Jiang Shu hurriedly thanked Lu Changji. As she spoke, she took the handkerchief, which still had the residual warmth of Lu Changji on it, so hot that it seemed like it would burn her hands.
Jiang Shu turned the handkerchief over, held the end that Lu Changji had not held, and tucked it into her armlet.
Back at Xinchun Garden, Jiang Shu closed the door, took out two pieces of silver from her makeup box and put them in Zhu'er's hands, whispering, "Ms. Yang wants to attend the banquet at the Marquis' Mansion. I don't know what she wants to do. Go back and find out."
The Jiang family was poor, with only four maids in the house. Jiang Shu was a concubine's daughter, and it was never her turn to order those maids around. When she was about to get married, Jiang Wenhuan felt that it would be ugly without a maid as a dowry, so she went to the grass market to buy Zhu'er.
Zhu'er's father is a butcher. Although the job of a butcher sounds dishonorable, he earns a lot of money. Zhu'er's family is well-off, and she is the youngest daughter in the family. She has been pampered by her father since she was a child.
Zhu'er grew up carefree until she was fourteen. Then her father fell ill and passed away suddenly. Her brother and sister-in-law were heartless and unwilling to spend a penny on Zhu'er. They immediately discussed selling her to a brothel. Zhu'er made a big fuss, saying that she would rather die than sell her smiles. Her brother and sister-in-law had to settle for the next best thing and sold her to a trafficker.
Seeing that Zhu'er was in good health, Jiang Wenhuan thought she was capable of working, so he spent four taels of silver to buy her and move her to Jiang's house.
Zhu'er is a latecomer and cannot compare with the well-trained maids in the Marquis' Mansion. Fortunately, she is honest and loyal to Jiang Shu. She will always complete everything Jiang Shu asks her to do with great care.
She kicked the silver into her arms and strode out the door.
About two hours later, Zhu'er returned to the Xinyang Marquis Mansion. Yang Shi implemented the principle of "all businessmen are dishonest" to the fullest extent. She always found ways to withhold the servants' monthly wages. The servants dared not say anything and over time they developed a grudge against Yang Shi.
Zhu'er spent half a tael of silver and found out everything about Yang's actions in the past few days.
Zhu'er said, "Madam has not been doing anything these days. She has been busy buying clothes for the second young lady. First, she asked the embroiderer from the brocade workshop to make two sets of clothes for the second young lady, and then she went to the silver workshop to make a set of headwear for the second young lady."
"That headpiece is extremely luxurious, inlaid with fifteen rubies. If converted into cash, it would probably be worth more than ten taels of silver."
"Mrs. Wu always gets the upper hand in front of Madam, and she kindly advised Madam that it would be a waste for the Second Young Lady to wear such luxurious jewelry now, and that she should use it to make a new box for her wedding."
"Madam, you think Mrs. Wu is shortsighted. She said the second young lady will be attending a banquet at the Marquis' residence in a few days. If she wins the noble's favor, she will probably be even more fortunate than the eldest young lady in the future. A mere dozen or so taels of silver, not even worth a fly's leg, is nothing to her."
A noble? The Xinyang Marquis's Mansion respected Lu Lin. Lu Lin was a playboy, but after all, he was older and of a different generation than Jiang Ran. Yang couldn't possibly set her sights on Lu Lin.
In addition to Lu Lin, the Xinyang Marquis's Mansion also has the eldest son Lu Changji and the youngest son Lu Changfeng. Lu Changfeng has already married a wife. Jiang Ran is too proud to plan to be a concubine.
Although Lu Changji was a bastard, he held immense power. Throughout the entire Marquisate, even Lu Lin didn't dare glance at him. The nobleman Yang was referring to was most likely Lu Changji.
Jiang Shu sneered. Yang and Jiang Ran were so arrogant. Who the hell was Jiang Ran? How dare he covet the incomparable Lu Changji?
The Lu and Jiang families had a huge gap in social status. Jiang Ran had no way of showing up in front of Lu Changji except by using some inferior means.
The family is of the same blood. If Jiang Ran loses face, Jiang Rong will also be implicated.
Jiang Shu took a sip of tea. On the day of the banquet, if Jiang Ran dared to do anything that would bring disgrace upon the Jiang family, she would make sure that Jiang Ran would be punished.
After all this trouble, Jiang Shu felt exhausted. After a short rest, it was already the afternoon.
Jiang Shu is Zhao's biological daughter-in-law. Although Zhao looks down on her, she will not leave her alone. Every day at 3:30 pm, she asks Jiang Shu to go to Yanxi Hall and teach her how to manage the household and accounts.
Jiang Shu knew what was right and wrong, and was very serious about learning how to be a housekeeper. She got up, changed her clothes, and was about to go to Yanxi Hall.
At this time, Chang Shun came out from the inner room and bowed to Jiang Shu and said, "Third Madam, the prince has woken up."
Lu Changyi was in poor health and slept much more than the average person. Usually when Jiang Shu came to Yanxitang, he would be taking a nap. Today, he got up early for once.
Lu Changyi likes Jiang Shu, and whenever he is awake, he always wants Jiang Shu to be by his side.
For the first time, Jiang Shu felt a little uncomfortable, as if there was a net binding her.
Although she was grateful to Lu Changyi and wanted to make him happy, the most important thing was to make plans for herself. Her background was not prominent, and her only support in the Xinyang Marquis's Mansion was Lu Changyi. However, Lu Changyi was weak and frail. If, if he died young, she would have to find a way to make a living.
Not to mention anything else, at the very least she had to shoulder the heavy responsibility of being the Crown Prince's wife and share the worries of the Marquis' wife.
Only when a person has the ability can he stand up.
Jiang Shu hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Chang Shun and said gently but firmly, "You must serve the prince well. He likes to fight crickets. Go and fetch the crickets from the treetops for him to enjoy. I will be back before dinner to have dinner with him."
After saying this, he no longer hesitated and followed Nanny Zhou out of Xinchun Garden.
Changshun was a little stunned for a moment. The Crown Prince's wife was gentle and virtuous, and always obeyed the Crown Prince in everything. Why did she suddenly forget about the Crown Prince today?
Thinking of the prince's temper, Changshun felt a headache. He hesitated for a moment and then went into the house with his head held high.
Changshun lowered his head, wishing he could put it to the ground, and his voice was as low as a mosquito: "Sir, Madam Zhou from Yanxi Hall is here to invite you. Third Madam has gone to Yanxi Hall with Madam Zhou to sort out the accounts."
There was a bowl of medicine on the Eight Immortals Table. The hot steam of the medicine filled the air, covering Lu Changyi's cheeks. Changshun could not see Lu Changyi's expression and did not dare to look at it. He could only hear Lu Changyi's low and deep voice.
"When Third Madam returns, go to Yanxi Hall and tell Madam Hou that I never married Jiang to make her independent. Don't let her learn household chores in the future."
He liked her and wanted to be with her all the time. All she had to do was make him happy. Why should she learn those stupid chores?
Changshun breathed a sigh of relief and walked out of the inner room with his head lowered.
Jiang Shu arrived at the Banquet West Hall. Before she even entered the flower hall, she heard the maid Zhuo'er report: "Third Madam, the Marquis's wife is now receiving Madam Xuan Zhengshi. Please wait outside the room!"
Zhao looked down on Jiang Shu from the bottom of her heart. Whenever Jiang Shu came to Yanxitang, she would always make fun of her. Jiang Shu didn't care. As long as she could learn real skills, what did standing around for a while matter?
The weather in June changes suddenly. In just a cup of tea, the sky was covered with dark clouds and heavy rain poured down.
In this situation, Jiang Shu should have gone inside to avoid the rain, but unfortunately, she didn't dare to make a decision on her own without Zhao's permission, so she could only continue to stand under the tree and let the rain pour down on her.
Jiang Shu was wearing thin silk clothes that were soaked by the rain and stuck to her body, making the breasts in front of her look even taller and straighter.
Jiang Shu lowered her eyes and glanced down, her face flushed with embarrassment. She untied the shawl wrapped around her arms and covered her chest with it.
The white rain was heavy and a shadow covered her body. Jiang Shu raised her head and saw a dark blue figure standing beside her. The man was holding an umbrella to block the wind and rain for her.
"Uncle!" Jiang Shu looked at the person who came and murmured softly.
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